Togo

Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Lomé, 1.524 million
Monetary unit: CFA Franc
Togolese Republic
National name: République Togolaise
Languages: French (official, commerce); Ewé, Mina (south); Kabyé, Dagomba (north)
Ethnicity/race: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Islam 20%
Literacy rate: 60.4% (2011 est.)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $7.348 billion; per capita $1,100. Real growth rate: 5.5%. Inflation: 2.2%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 44.2%. Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish. Labor force: 2.595 million (2007); agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.). Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages. Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land. Exports: $982.2 million (2013 est.): reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa. Imports: $1.677 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products. Major trading partners: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Netherlands, Niger, China, India, France, Lebanon, UK (2012).
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 225,000 (2012); mobile cellular: 3.518 million (2012). Radio broadcast stations: 2 state-owned TV stations with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with multiple stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2007). Radios: 940,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus two repeaters) (1997). Televisions: 73,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1,168 (2012). Internet users: 356,300 (2009).
Transportation: Railways: total: 568 km (2008). Highways: total: 11,652 km; paved: 2,447 km; unpaved: 9,205 km (2007 est.). Waterways: 50 km Mono river. Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome. Airports: 8 (2013).

Fun Facts

• Togo, twice the size of Maryland.
• Togo is the world’s 4th largest producer of phosphate.
• The green stripes in Togo’s flag symbolize hope and agriculture.
• Togo greetings include a handshake and verbal “Hello” in French (Bonjour), Ewe (Woezo-lo!), Kabiye (Alafia-we) or another tribal language.
• If you’re in Togo and someone older than you is carrying heavy stuff, as a sign of respect, you should take it from them immediately. Don’t leave them carrying it.
• Fufu is a traditional food item of Togo is made from yam.
• Togo culture is highlighted by its prominent festivals, out of which Evala is the traditional fighting festival that lasts for ten days at a stretch.
• Worn-out tires in Togo are recycled into sandals, toys or fuel for smoking meat.